Don’t let terrorists hijack Islam

Meriden

As Ahmadiyya Muslim Americans, we pray with broken hearts for the innocent lives lost in Manhattan after yet another terrorist attack on our country’s soil. We condemn such cowardly incursions and wage the greater spiritual jihad of peace and justice to reverse radicalization and prevent pretenders from hijacking our unifying faith.

The Quran and life of Prophet Muhammad, sent as a mercy to all (2:108), decry hatred, extremism, and murder in all forms — especially in the name of Allah, the One Gracious, Merciful God Whose mercy overpowers His anger. In our time, Messiah Ahmad and his successors, called Khalifas, have been exemplifying this peace-loving healing and forbidding militant “Jihad of the sword.”

Allah forewarned us of destructive deceivers 1,400 years ago; “When it is said to them ‘Create not disorder in the earth,’ they say, ‘We are only promoters of peace.’ Beware it is surely they who create disorder but they do not perceive” (Quran 2:12-13). Similarly, the Gospel and Messiah Jesus prepared us to recognize “wolves dressed in sheep’s clothing” (Matt 7:15).

Appearing Muslim or shouting “Allahu Akbar” doesn’t unquestionably define a Muslim, just as carrying a cross and screaming Jesus’ name doesn’t make white supremacists Christian.